Social
The social system of the Persian Empire was built off of communication and transportation. They had a social class that was much like the Indian social structure. Once you were born into something it was challenging to move. The social strucutre is kings, priests, military, traders, craftsmen, farmers, and slaves. Slaves were present in society and were often captured from other conquered civilizations that refused to behave. Social life was entertaining to people and they had ways of entertaining themselves. Games were often played.
Political
The government of the Persian Empire was based off of tolerance and diplomacy. It was ruled by one empire. The empire ruled twenty provinces and the three main kings were Darius, Campyses, and Cyrus the Great who ruled at different times. They established political order to Southeast Asia. The society was ruthless and great conquers. Around 300 B.C. the empire dominated the entire area where they were located. They believed in ruling other societies and giving them the title of the Persians. They would let them stay once conquered, but would have to abide by their laws and often pay taxes. The legal system of the empire made the empire work efficiently and laws allowed the citizens to know their rights.
Religion
The religion of the Persian Empire was based off of the Egyptain gods, but mainly the god Mazda and that he will judge you at the end of your life by whether you used your time for good or evil. They used earth as a "battle ground" to fight good versus evil. They believe everyone struggles and Zoroastrianism was found in other religions such as Muslim and Christianity. The concept of this religion was developed by Zoroaster who was a Persian phrophet living around 600 B.C. In 600 A.D. the religion declined. Zoroastrianism had an important development on another religion, Manichasim.
Enviromental
The geography of the Persian Empire greatly influenced everyday life. The empire extended from the North of the Caspian Sea to the South of the Persian Gulf. It is located mainly in modern day Iran and smaller sections include Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The capital of Persia was Persepolis. The land was very fertile and yielded to lots of crops. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers helped the people to irrigate the crops. Without the floods and silt from these rivers, the crops would not be able to grow as well. Their homes were built from mud bricks and occassional stone. Elaborate two story homes were constructed and the wealthy had advanced features in their homes.
Intellectual/Art
The greatest language being used at the time was Aramaic. Old Persia was the official language but only used for scriptures and other official business. Art has been found in remains from the empire and it is distinctive from other eras. It was not the main focus of the society, but artisans did specialize in it. They took the art forms of many Middle Eastern society and formed them into one signifigant design for this empire. Pottery was the main interest in art for the Persians. These artists are known for their incredibly detailed works and the amount of time and energy they put in. The Persians were one of the first weavers. They often created items such as clothing and rugs. Dance is shown in relics and images throughout the entire span of the empire.
Technology
The technology of the Persian Empire was great. They had a royal road that connected from Susa in Persia to Sardis in Anatolia. The royal road was 1,677 miles with one-hundred and eleven posts that were fifteen miles spread out. Royal messangers that worked for the king could travel the road in seven days by horses that were placed at everyone stop. Commoners could travel the road slower and by foot. This time period relied greatly on the use of the Bronze and Iron age. There was an abundance of these metals and they were often used in weapons, tools, and other materials.
Economic
The economics of the Persian Empire was based on trade. Trade holds the entire empire together through all provinces of Persia coming together as one to distribute the goods needed to survive. They had trade routes spanning in every direction. Darius revolutionized the economy by using standardized gold and silver coins throughout the civilization which promoted trade and made it easier for foreigners to obide by the system. The resources of the land included many minerals such as copper, lead, gold, silver, and blue lapis lazuli . Wool was a major trade item and pearls could only be found in this region which made them very valuable. Due to the expansion of fertile land crops came in a surplus and often there was too many. These were traded to surrounding societies with less fertile land.